Daniel Cherny

AFL director of umpiring Wayne Campbell has expressed his disappointment at those who booed concussed umpire Troy Pannell off the field on Friday night.

Pannell was involved in an accidental head clash with Swan Nick Malceski during the third quarter of Sydney's victory over Essendon at Etihad Stadium, and needed to be escorted off the ground on a cart.

While the Bombers' medical staff, including veteran club doctor Bruce Reid, came to Pannell's aid following the unusual incident, a portion of the crowd booed the umpire as he lay stricken on the turf, and continued to do so even as his predicament became apparent.

"Booing an umpire, we've done that for 100 years, we get that, but if a bloke's been injured, it's just a pretty ordinary act, I would think," the former Richmond captain said.

"There were so many positives, so much support, the Essendon medical staff were terrific because they got there first, the support of Sydney, the support of Luke Parker and Michael Hibberd via Twitter last night for supporting the umpire. But the booing was just very, very ordinary," he said.

While stopping short of advocating evictions or bans for offending patrons, Campbell encouraged others who witness ugly fan behaviour to speak up.

"Certainly, if you were sitting next to someone who was booing, I reckon it'd be worthwhile giving him or her a look and saying that it's not acceptable," he said.

Nick Foot, one of Pannell's fellow field umpires, took to Twitter to voice his dismay at the behaviour of those booing.

Foot tweeted during the game: "Absolutely disgusted sitting at Etihad Stadium listening to morons boo Troy Pannell from the ground. Should be ashamed! #snuffs."

A host of football fans and journalists joined in the chorus of condemnation.

Campbell said Pannell had soon regained consciousness, and was recovering well.

35 comments so far

Maybe the booing had less to do with the umpire being injured and more to do with the decisions that and been made during the game.

Commenter

Vicki

Date and time

May 17, 2014, 12:13PM

Thanks very much for pointing out that very obvious piece of information.

Now tell me how that makes it any less despicable from a group of supporters (I'm pointing the finger at Essendon supporters) who were booing Adam Goodes for no reason and did the same with their own player (Brett Stanton) a while back?

Commenter

Dirk

Date and time

May 17, 2014, 12:36PM

Agree to a large extent Vicki. I was at the game (didn't boo the ump on the ground) BUT was aghast most of the match with MANY decisions. Feel many Essendon supporters were just reacting to their frustrations with the game at that point. Not an excuse, but maybe a reason!

Commenter

unknown

Date and time

May 17, 2014, 12:45PM

Typical Essendon

Commenter

Baz

Date and time

May 17, 2014, 1:00PM

Well, Essendon were ahead on free kicks at the time. So no.

Commenter

emjay

Date and time

May 17, 2014, 1:01PM

A Melbourne based Swans fan said that the Dons fans are worse than Collingwood fans, and on the evidence of last night, you'd have to say the Bomber fans are pretty classless. Booing an injured umpire, booing Adam Goodes...why? Because he's Australian of the Year or because he's an aboriginal man who speaks his mind? ASADA will see their VFL team is playing AFL in 2015.

Commenter

Hannebery's Tongue

Location

Burwood

Date and time

May 17, 2014, 2:39PM

OF COURSE VICKI...your'e the expert.

Commenter

Mike

Location

Sydney

Date and time

May 17, 2014, 2:49PM

"Feel many Essendon supporters were just reacting to their frustrations with the game at that point. Not an excuse, but maybe a reason!"

If that was the reason, they need to have a good hard look at their priorities in life.

Commenter

cuts both ways

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

May 17, 2014, 4:08PM

Now we can include a group of those Essendon supporters as the Brainless uneducated rabble...many of whom wouldn't have the IQ that God gave the Domestic Pooch.Absolutely disgraceful antics last night.

Commenter

Mike

Location

Sydney

Date and time

May 17, 2014, 4:12PM

emjay....you are totally wrong........and even if your weren't.......6 goals from six frees inside 50 isn't the same as 10 frees in the back line you idiot